So
@benhogan , I went back and watched Tatum last year, especially in the playoffs. Not making a video of it since there is plenty of footage on Youtube of team defensive highlights and other highlights from the Pacers and Bucks games.
Observations:
1. Jackie Mac's narrative of Pop's transforming Tatum is cute, but inaccurate. Tatum was correctly positioning himself and doing all the stuff he does well now back at the end of last season. The difference now is that he's just 10% better at everything. This is a Tatum+Celtics thing, not a Pop thing. (I guess that should make us feel good, since it implies good things about the environment and his future progression?)
2. The defensive/physical talent on last year's team really pops. I will never forgive Mr. Chemistry for mentally checking out, for reasons unknown, after Game 1 of the Bucks. That team, 49-33 and all, was way better than they finished and deserved a better final series.
3. Gordon has another level he can hit defensively in terms of mental focus. They really need him to fully engage by April.